Bon Iver's Justin Vernon revived Eaux Claires, the music festival he co-curates with The National's Aaron Dessner in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, after an eight-year hiatus, capping the two-day event with a surprise performance in which he channelled Bob Dylan. The festival, which originally ran for four years in the 2010s, distinguishes itself from typical music events through an eclectic mix of programming, including jugglers, writers-in-residence and literary workshops alongside musical acts, reflecting Vernon's stated ambition to foster genuine human connection in an increasingly digital age.

Vernon announced the festival's return in February via an Instagram video, explaining that a chance encounter with Dylan passing through town roughly a year earlier, alongside his own 44 years living in Eau Claire, inspired him to bring the community-focused event back. The 2026 edition featured performers spanning generations, from Gen Z indie-pop artist Samia to Gen X singer-songwriter Aimee Mann, alongside writers such as Sheila Heti, who led a workshop on chance, time and creativity. The festival's setting includes a wooded park with historical significance, having hosted one of Hank Aaron's early professional baseball games.